Engagement parties. You'd think they'd be fun wouldn't you? Not for Jungeun. All night she'd watched her fiancé down drink after drink and get close to just about every woman she saw. That didn't include her though.
Jungeun spent most of the party with Jinsol, her childhood best friend. She helped distract her from her womanizer of a fiancé which she was grateful for since she decided drinking away her sorrows wouldn't exactly end well.
Since Sooyoung had left out of nowhere (probably to go flirt with more women), that left Jungeun to clean the house up by herself. Almost everyone had left by now and the only remaining people were herself and Jinsol.
Jungeun started collecting the copious amounts of plastic cups and beer cans that were spread around her kitchen, Jinsol held out a bag for her to dump the trash in.
"You don't have to help, Jinsol. I can manage."
"I know I don't have to, I want to. Somebody else should be helping but they aren't here so I don't mind."
Jungeun collected another handful of trash and sighed. "Do you have to remind me about my asshole of a fiancé?"
"I just don't know why you said yes when she proposed to you, this isn't the first time she's left to go fuck some random girls."
Jungeun sighed again and sadness was clear on her face. "I just... I thought things would change. I thought this meant she was ready to be committed."
"Oh Jung..." Jinsol put the trash bag down and wrapped Jungeun in a hug. Jungeun buried her face into the taller girl's shoulder. "Come on, sit down." Jinsol sat down on the nearby couch and ushered Jungeun to cuddle up next to her. The younger buried her face into the older's shoulder once again. Quiet sniffles came from the younger and Jinsol could feel the dampness of the tears through her thin shirt; she hugged Jungeun tighter and lightly stroked her hair.
"Let it out, Jung. I'm right here."
"I feel so stupid... why would she ever change? She never did before so why would she now? I don't know what to do anymore..." Jungeun sobbed more with each word, every syllable filled with sadness and anger at her own foolish mistake of staying with Sooyoung.
It broke Jinsol's heart to see her best friend like this, she almost shed a tear herself at the amount of raw emotion that Jungeun was showing.
"You aren't stupid, Jung, you were just in love and love blinds you. It happens to the best of us but just know that you deserve so much better than Sooyoung; someone who doesn't cheat constantly, someone who cares for you, someone who is gentle with you." Jinsol paused, "Someone who actually loves you. You deserve so much, Jungeun. I hope you know that."
Jungeun sat up and looked at Jinsol, "You really think so?" Jungeun whispered like she couldn't believe that Jinsol thought that.
"Of course I do, you know I care about you more than anything." She truly meant it when she said it but it also went deeper than that. She loved Jungeun, more than a friend and she had for a while.
Seeing Jungeun be with Sooyoung for this many years forced her to push her feelings to the side and ignore them but right now it was impossible to do that. For the first time in a while Jungeun smiled and it warmed her heart so much to see it. She could feel her feelings for her growing every second they looked at each other.
Jinsol was snapped out of her thoughts when Jungeun gently caressed her face and looked into her eyes once again. "I don't know what I did to deserve someone like you, Jinsol. I'm so happy I met you all those years ago."
Jinsol smiled brighter than she'd ever smiled before, she never really knew how to take compliments and that was showing right now by the fact that she was speechless. Jungeun laughed lightly at Jinsol and pressed their foreheads together.
"I'm glad I met you too and I want to show you how grateful I am." Jungeun gave Jinsol a confused expression, "How are you gonna do that?"
"By doing this." Without leaving time to think about changing her mind, she pressed her lips against Jungeun's quickly and then broke away.
Jungeun was completely still, too shocked to speak. Jinsol panicked, thinking she'd overstepped her boundaries. "I-I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that-"
"No- no- I just didn't expect that..." It was true, she had no idea Jinsol liked her like that.
"A-ah... I-I'm s-sorry."
"No- don't say sorry."
Jinsol brushed Jungeun's face with her hand again, then started to stand up. If she didn't leave, she knew she wouldn't be able to stop herself from kissing her again. Her feelings for Jungeun were too strong.
"Jinsol, wait." Jungeun grabbed Jinsol's wrist and she turned around in surprise. Jungeun stood up and kissed her softly. It took a couple seconds for Jinsol to register what was happening but once she did she cupped Jungeun's face and kissed her back passionately.
Jungeun broke away and looked at Jinsol, her face full of glee. She smiled back and kissed her again but Jinsol pulled away. "Wait, what are you gonna say to Sooyoung?"
"I'll think about it later, for now I just want to be with you." Jungeun hugged Jinsol and rested her head on her shoulder. Jinsol leaned her head on top of Jungeun's and kissed it.
For a moment it was like the world had stopped. Being in Jungeun's arms was the best feeling in the world and she never wanted it to end. Unfortunately the reality set in that Jungeun was still with Sooyoung and that this was probably a one time thing that would never happen again.
Jinsol spoke quietly, "Jungeun, is this gonna go anywhere?"
"I don't know yet, but I care for you, so, so much. More than you could know."
Jinsol hugged Jungeun tighter and whispered three words to her...
"I love you..."
Jungeun's eyes widened at the confession. "She loves me..?" She was trying to figure out how she didn't know that Jinsol felt that way but she couldn't deny the way her heart fluttered when she said it.
"I-I'm sorry... I– don't know why I–" Jungeun cut her off. "You don't need to apologise. It's okay." She gently stroked Jinsol's hair. "I just... Give me some time, okay? I need to end things with Sooyoung before we solidify anything."
"I understand. I'll give you all the time you need, Don't feel pressured to be quick, I'll always wait for you." Jungeun smiled, "Thank you." They kissed one last time before continuing to finish cleaning.
Jungeun stayed downstairs while Jinsol cleaned upstairs.
Jinsol walked down the hallway and was unexpectedly greeted by Haseul, the fourth friend in her childhood friend group.
"Hey, Sol. How'd the cleaning downstairs go?" Haseul had an edge to her voice that wasn't usually there. "Weird question... um Jungeun's just finishing up while I check up here."
"So you just cleaned? Nothing else happened?" Jinsol could tell she was suspicious but there's no way she saw her and Jungeun kissing. Right? "Not really."
"Wow, you really just lied to my face. I saw you making out." Haseul scoffed.
"Were you just creepily watching us?" Haseul ignored her question. "She still has a girlfriend, Jinsol. Not to mention that Sooyoung is still our friend even if she is an awful girlfriend."
"So what're you going to do? Tell her?"
"I'm not gonna do anything."
"That's what I thought."
Haseul sighed, "Just be careful, Jinsol."
"Sooyoung won't do anything."
"I wasn't talking about her." Jinsol tilted her head. "Me?"
"Try not to hurt her. She's gone through a lot whilst being with Sooyoung and I don't want whatever happened between you to upset her more." Haseul looked down. Jinsol rubbed her arm reassuringly. "That's the last thing I want to do, you know I'd never intentionally hurt her." Haseul nodded.
"Now, answer my question. Were you just watching us..?"
"Oh no, of course not. I just went to get some stuff for Yeojin and saw you two making out." Haseul fake gagged. "Yeojin drink too much again?"
"Yep, I had to make sure she didn't throw up on Jungeun's expensive ass carpets." She rolled her eyes. "Ohh that's why you're here. We thought everyone left."
"Nope, still here." Haseul said whilst doing jazz hands. "Anyway, can you tell Jung that I'm gonna be sleeping in the guest room, oh and that Yeojin fell asleep in the bathtub." Jinsol was about to question it but Haseul cut her off. "Don't ask. That kid is a mess." They both laughed. "Well, I better get back to cleaning so I'll see you in the morning?"
"Yup. Enjoy your cleaning and please don't go any further with Jung. That girl needs a break."
"Go it, boss." Jinsol saluted and Haseul punched her arm. They laughed one more time before going their separate ways.
***
"Upstairs is all clean. Haseul and Yeojin are still here by the way." Jinsol said as she came downstairs. "Good cause I'm exhausted." Jungeun yawned. "I can tell." Jinsol laughed, "I guess I better get home since Haseul took the spare bed."
"Just sleep in mine; it's too late for you to drive home."
"I can go home, it's fine, Jung-" Jinsol was visibly panicked about sleeping in the same bed as Jungeun even though they'd done it before. Jungeun (obviously) sensed it and dragged Jinsol to her bedroom with her. "Sol, we've literally shared a bed so many times, relax." She finally let go of her when she closed the bedroom door.
"I'll give you some spare clothes. I don't want to feel your jeans scraping on my leg whilst I'm trying to sleep." She opened the wardrobe and threw some shorts and an oversized t-shirt on the bed. "Get changed and get in bed while I brush my teeth." Jinsol muttered a small "okay" as Jungeun went in the bathroom.
A few minutes later Jungeun came back and Jinsol was laying in bed as she had requested. "You look comfy."
"I have never felt such a comfy bed in my life." They both laughed lightly.
Jungeun turned the lights off and went to her side of the bed. She lifted the duvet from her side of the bed and got under the covers. They both stared at the ceiling in silence before Jungeun spoke. "Thanks for staying tonight, Jinsol, I appreciate it a lot."
"Hey, it's no problem. You know I'd do anything for you, Jung."
"Anything?"
"Of course!"
Jungeun shuffled closer to Jinsol and rested her head on her chest. "Can we um... can we cuddle?" Jungeun asked nervously. Jinsol just wrapped her arms around Jungeun and gently stroked her hair. "This okay?" she spoke softly. Jungeun nodded.
Jinsol's voice was so soothing to her ears, the slight husk and the gentleness was enough to let her rest easy. "G'night Sol." Jungeun had already closed her eyes and started to fall asleep. Jinsol smiled at her sleepy state and ran her fingers through her hair. "Goodnight Jung."